Bag top closure means



0t.31,1939., 5.1.. LEVESCONTE Em. 2 118,044

BAG TOP CLOSURE MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1937 INVENTOR. E0 WARD L. isVsscgzwr: g -28527 J. HARVEY.

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Patented Oct. 31, 1939 1 BAG. Tor oLosUnE. MEANS Edward L. Le Vesconteand Herbert J. Harvey, San

Francisco, Calif., assignor to The Union Lithograph Company, Inc., SanFrancisco, Calif, a corporation of California Application August 1937,Serial No..156,856

6 Claims. (01. 229-65) This invention relates to bag closures of the Mtype adapted for use with bags of Cellophane ,or like material. relatesto bag closure means of the class in which a supplementary memberof afoldable material is attached to the bag to efiect the closing of thepackage.

In recent years there has been a great tendency among purveyors offoods, especially cookies,

7 cakes, crackers and the like to employ Cellophane packages for theirgoods. These have conveniently taken the form of bags. With the extendeduse of this packaging medium it has been observed that while numerousmethods of closing a the bags have been utilized, apparently no one hasdevised a closure which could be subjected to repeated use during theperiod in which the contents of the bag were being consumed, withoutloss of efficiency. Additionally, little or no attention seems to havebeen given to simplify- "ing the original or factory closing operation,

which is so essential in these daysof high speed,

low cost production. Y s

As a consequence of these deficiencies in the prior art, it isnoticeable'that many makeshift devices have been resorted to with theresult that many of them, if not all, defy the dexterity of experiencedpackagers and run up production costs to the danger point.

With these observations in mind it is an object of the present inventionto provide an extremely inexpensive, and yet practicable closure meanswhich will fully meet the needs of the art.

These and other objects have been attained through the provision of atwo-fold cardboard closure, adapted to be interfolded with the mouth ofthe bag, and having a pair of cars or tabs of bendable metal sopositioned with respect to the folds that when bent a tightly lockedpackage will result.

Furthermore, the present invention contemplates the use of a combinationscore and cutscore line to define the first fold of the closure, insteadof the conventional score line, as a means of facilitating the foldingoperation and attaining an even, fiat fold.

These and other objects will become more apparent as the specificationproceeds and the particular novelty will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the face of the cardboard closure meansforming the subject matter of the present invention, I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the closure M'ore particularly, theinvention with a bag in position for the first'folding opera-- tion,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the closure and bag after the firstfolding operation,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the closure after the second foldingoperation, 7

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bag and closure following thebending of the tabs to lock the package, and

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the face of the closure or the sideopposite that of Figure 5.

The numeral 9 designates a bag closure, rectangular in shape, made ofcardboard or any similar, flexible material. This member is divided intothree sections or folds H], H and I2 by the score lines l3 and M,respectively.

The fold II is provided with the self-stapled tabs or ears E5 ofbendable metal.

As an aid to the folding of the member ,9 upon itself, and to insureevenness in the fold, we have provided the novel arrangement along thescore line l3. Instead of the usual or conventional double score-line(such as line l4) extending clear across the member 9, we have scoredthe member 9 inwardly from its sides and employed a cut-score line It inthe medial portion. The characteristics of this partial cut-score line I6 are best understood when it is borne in mind that where a cardboardstock fifteen thousandths of an inch is employed, the cut isapproximately twelve thousandths of an inch deep, leaving a skinapproximately three thousandths of an inch in thickness.

The function of the line l3 as thus characterized, is that when theoperator grasps the member 9 at its side edges and efiects thehereinafter described folding operation, evenness of the first foldalong the line I3 is insured in contrast to, what may be termed, thebellying of fold H] which would be the inevitable result if line [3 weremerely a conventional scoring. The bellying of fol-d Hi would seriouslyinterfere with the completion of the folding operation, particularly thenext step (see Figure 4) and this is especially true where speed is ofthe essence.

It will be noted that the main body section l2 of the member 9 isemployed as a space for the imprinting of trade marks or otheradvertising.

In utilizing the closure means forming the subject matter of thisapplication, in connection with the mouth of a bag, the successive stepsare those illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, of the drawing. Theflattened mouth of a bag is first laid over the whole of the member 9,utilizing the reverse of the side illustrated in Figure 1. Fold i isthen folded over section II. It will be noted that in this operation thetop of bag 20 is clasped between folds I0 and l I.

Fold H is next folded along the score line H over fold In and member 9and the engaged portions of the mouth of the bag. Ears l5 are then bentover the matter thus enfolded and flattened on the face of the member 9(see Figure 6), to complete the folding operation.

When it is desired to use only a portion of the contents of the packagethus closed at a particular time, one need only straighten the tabs l5and unfold the member 9 to gain access to the bag 20. The heretoforedescribed closing operations are so relatively simple that once the bagis seen in the closed condition of Figure 6, one would have nodifficulty in re-closing it. Thus the subject matter of this inventionwill serve to provide an efficient, re-usable closure for the purchaser.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that We have devised anextremely efiicient structure for the purpose disclosed and one which isinexpensive to manufacture. Bearing in mind the small margins operatedupon in those industries in which the invention will be particularlyuseful, the low cost of manufacture is an important item.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby grant of Letters Patent, is:

1. In a bag closure of the class described, a

, rectangular cardboard member having a pair of fold-lines spaced apartfrom one of its edges to define two foldings of the member upon itself,the fold-line nearest the edge of said member being characterized by acut-score intermediate its ends.

2. In a bag closure of the class described, a rectangular cardboardmember having a pair of fold-lines spaced apart from and parallel to oneof its edges to define two foldings of the member upon itself, at leastone of said fold-lines being characterized by a cut-score intermediateits ends.

3. In a bag closure of the class described, a

rectangular cardboard member having a pair of fold-lines spaced apartfrom one of its edges to define two foldings of the member upon itself,the fold-line nearest the edge of said member being characterized by acut-score intermediate its ends, and means integral with said member forlooking it in its folded position.

4. In a bag closure of the class described, a rectangular cardboardmember having a pair of fold-lines spaced apart from and parallel to oneof its edges to define two foldings of the member upon itself, at leastone of said fold-lines being characterized by a cut-score intermediateits ends, and a pair of bendable metal tabs secured at opposite ends ofone of said foldable sections of said member, said tabs serving to lockthe closure in folded condition when bent about the edges thereof.

5. In a package, a bag, a closure for the mouth thereof comprising arectangular cardboard member having a pair of fold-lines spaced apartfrom and parallel to one of its edges to define two foldings of themember upon itself, each of said foldings engaging and interfolding acorresponding area of the bag adjacent said mouth, at least one of saidfold-lines being characterized by a cutscore intermediate its ends.

6. In a package, a bag, a closure for the mouth thereof comprising arectangular cardboard member having a pair of fold-lines spaced apartfrom and parallel to one of its edges to define two foldings of themember upon itself, each of said foldings engaging and interfolding 2.corresponding area of the bag adjacent said mouth, at least one of saidfold-lines being characterized by a cut-score intermediate its ends anda pair of bendable metal tabs secured at opposite ends of one of saidfoldable sections of said member, said tabs serving to lock the closurein folded condition when bent about the edges thereof.

EDWARD L. LE VESCONTE. HERBERT J. HARVEY.

